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爝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
爝juétorchx, 21 strokes, radical 火
jué(jue2)jue T2
  1. 1torch
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March 24, 2026

爝jué(jue2)

The character 爝 (jué) refers to a type of torch or flame used for illumination. It is often associated with fire and light, symbolizing guidance or direction, especially in historical or ceremonial contexts. In modern usage, it may refer to literal torches or metaphorically to enlightenment and inspiration.

Strokes21Radical火
Cultural note

In ancient China, torches were often used in rituals and festivals to symbolize the dispelling of darkness and the welcoming of light, reflecting the importance of fire in cultural practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a torch lighting up the dark night, with flames dancing like a joyful spirit. The character 爝 looks like a flame above the ground (the '火' radical), which helps you remember that it involves fire, while the pronunciation 'jué' sounds like 'jewel' – a precious source of light.

Meanings of 爝

jué(jue2)
1torch
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 爝 means.

About 爝

爝Simplified
21Strokes
火Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 爝

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Podcast: 爝

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AI Study Notes for 爝

Quick Contrast

火 (huǒ, fire) vs 火把 (huǒbǎ, torch) — choose 爝 when referring specifically to a type of torch or flame used for illumination, rather than general fire or the more common term for torch.

Usage Notes

When using 爝, it's important to note that it is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Instead, you might encounter it in literature or historical texts. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (jué), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

As 爝 is not included in the HSK levels, focus on its radicals, particularly 火 (fire), which appears in many other characters related to fire. Understanding this connection can help solidify your grasp of related vocabulary, such as 烧 (shāo, to burn) and 灯 (dēng, lamp).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 爝 with similar characters, such as 烛 (zhú, candle), which can lead to miscommunication about the type of light source being referenced. Always remember that 爝 specifically refers to a torch.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 爝

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Jason Explains 爝 to You

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How Well Do You Know 爝?

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Etymology of 爝

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

fire

Semantic (meaning)火
+
Phonetic (sound)爵
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

爝 = 火 + 爵. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 爝

IDS Structure⿰火爵
爝Full character
=
火Huo3
left
爵jue2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 爝?

How to say torch in Chinese

“torch” in Chinese is爝jué

The character 爝 (jué) refers to a type of torch or flame used for illumination. It is often associated with fire and light, symbolizing guidance or direction, especially in historical or ceremonial contexts. In modern usage, it may refer to literal torches or metaphorically to enlightenment and inspiration.

When to use 爝

When using 爝, it's important to note that it is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Instead, you might encounter it in literature or historical texts. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (jué), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

爝 or something close to it

火 (huǒ, fire) vs 火把 (huǒbǎ, torch) — choose 爝 when referring specifically to a type of torch or flame used for illumination, rather than general fire or the more common term for torch.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 爝 with similar characters, such as 烛 (zhú, candle), which can lead to miscommunication about the type of light source being referenced. Always remember that 爝 specifically refers to a torch.

Write 爝

爝

Practice writing 爝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 爝

Words containing this character1
爝juétorch

Frequently Asked Questions about 爝

No, 爝 is more often found in classical literature or specific contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

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